Saab Maintenance and Repair
Talk about any problems and possible solutions for your Saab here.
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Having troubles with a break screech that they haven't been able to fix yet. Also they are trying to fix a problem with the tyre pressure monitoring system. They have released the car back to me once and I had to turn it back in for the same problems that same day.
Will let you know what the fix is/was if it ever gets fixed.
Thank you.
I've been in Alfas for 16 years and this isn't the smoothest transition in the world.
Allen
Obviously, this mechanic feels, right or wrong, that the integrity of the rotors will be compromised if he shaves them too much. Ask him how many thousandths he needs to grind them? It usually isn't more than thirty thousandths. I agree you should be able to get at least one resurfacing out of them. Did you experience a lot of steering wheel vibration when stopping? If so, they may be too warped to resurface. Good Luck.
Wonder if I can get the low-down on any maintenance issues, bulletins, preventive maintenance tips, etc. to help keep this sophistobucket happy. Have driven straight Japanese cars since 1986 when I bought my last bad experience with GM (Irony strikes with GM buying out an honest little fighter jet makers auto div 10 or so years back). Any weak parts, false warnings, early maint tips, anything at all would be greatly appreciated.
Jonswede
I can't answer your question, I'm not much of a gearhead, but I bought a new '83 Saab turbo, 5-speed, in August of '83. In June of '96, after, I believe, 92,000 miles, might have been less, I couldn't shift into reverse.
I sold it for $500 to a vintage car dealer, who didn't want it after his mechanic checked it out, but who was honorable enough to own up to his original offer.
I bought a new '96 900S on Fourth of July weekend, with a 5-speed again. The dealer said he'd give me $500 for my '83 to save the sale of the new one, but he didn't want my old car, which is why I sold it to the vintage car dealer.
You didn't mention how much mileage the '94 has on it, but I'd sure be careful about buying it. I still have my '96 900S, with 71,000 miles on it, but I worry about the transmission. I live in Chicago and although I have a few cross-country trips, trips to Milwaukee and St. Louis, and a lot of expressway driving on the car, there's a great deal of stop-and-go city driving in severe weather on torn-up streets. Saab mechanics over the years have told me that when the transmission goes, it's very difficult to get much more useful life out of the car.
Just one man's opinion. Both my cars were coupe/hatchback models, and I'll miss those, unless Saab starts making them again. My biggest concern is whether or not Saab itself will survive. Best of luck to you, whatever you decide.
Greg in Chicago
Thanks for your consideration,
Jeannine Fallon
Corporate Communications
Edmunds.com
As I mentioned in my earlier post, I'm not a gearhead, but when my car would not move in reverse, the transmission was shot. I could shift into reverse, but when I tried to back up, the car would kick the shifter back into neutral. I'd push the car backwards if I had to, then drive away normally, but I couldn't go backwards any farther than I could push the car.
My car had about 90,000 miles back then, and it was old. I'd suggest you phone a local Saab service guy and ask him, but it sounds like a transmission issue. My 2d Saab now has 71,000 miles, and I worry regularly about that happening again.
Hopefully you'll get better advice than mine, but if you Google "Saab Repair Bulletin Boards", you'll find the ones I used to visit. The Internet is amazing, and you'll run across Saab gurus who can help you.
Thx for any help you can provide...
If you have an overheating Saab, you have to look at the head gasket for openers....fill the coolant and have the cooling system pressure tested. Your heat gauge will not work if there is no coolant in the system (it can't read "steam" temperature, it needs coolant to touch it). If your car severely overheated, this often results in head gasket or cylinder head damage, so have this checked carefully.
Also on this car check for the back window separating from the top and for water stains at the back window---also for wear spots above the rear windows where the top mechanism bolts dig through the top and ruin in. Also do a compression test as these cars are prone to head gasket problems. Check also for leaking power steering racks (red oil dripping at the firewall, down below) and check for excessive tire wear at the right front tire. If this is a turbo model it will eat front tires for breakfast if you don't rotate them religiously. Also if a turbo check for blue smoke at cold start-up (turbo seals are going) and for excessive whine from the turbo. Also play with all the switches and make sure the windows go up and down quickly and aren't dragging and that the AC works.
If all this makes you hold your breath, that's the reason I'm writing it.
my 1999 9-3 saab (which i am original owner) fits fits this. Not only did I complete all sceduled maint. the car only has 39,000 miles. May 20 2005 started spitting white smoke, during and after warranty had many unexpected (expensive) repairs, cannot even get $1500 on a trade in. will never buy another SAAB.
The next day, in the morning, it was about 74 degrees farenheit. It started okay, drove okay for a bit, but, as soon as it reached normal operating temperature (somewhere in the middle of the temperature gauge) it started the stalling out business again. The engine would suddenly stop accelerating, like the day before, and started to stall at idle at traffic lights. After a few incidents, I learned to get it moving again, by pressing on the gas pedal and the brake at the same time, keeping the engine idling a little faster than normal. This allowed me to pull away from the light, but, once again, as I tried to bring the car up to the normal 45 mph, erratic pulses of non-responsiveness continued, periodically, as I stepped on the gas pedal.
Help!!! Does anyone have an idea about what is going on with my car, and why it is doing this?
I have read the entry by "brad7" on April 9th and the response from "5555" on May 27th. I have sent this to the dealership and I am awaiting their verdict. However, I am not sure if we are describing the same problem.
If anyone knows of anything, I'd certainly appreciate any feedback.
I've had extraordinary problems with my 2000 95 wagon - both while under warranty and after. Extensive oil leaking at 30,000 miles; engine pulled and head replaced at least three times, blown exhaust manifold, manufacturer's defects to exhaust bolts, turbo disconnecting all at under 40,000 miles... At 51,000 miles, the car failed completely due to a defective DI module. Now, at 55,000 miles, the car's turbo appears to have seized as it will not accelerate over 25mph on a modest freeway incline.
Saab Cars helped - while the car was under warranty. One of the technicians at my local dealership said - 'Lady, they aren't going to solve the problems with your car until the warranty is up!' Needless to say, he no longer works there probuablly because he was telling the truth.
Before this most recent engine failure, I called my local dealership's new Manager of Service to ask for clarification regarding Saab Car's May 17, 2005 letter warning of possible engine defects to my model and year which might lead to 'Oil Sludge' . Instead of explaining the possible problems and remedies, he told me that: 'Saab had no obligation to me... until the engine fails completely... this conversation is over'... then he hung up!
Gee, Saab Car's letter about 'Oil Sludge' didn't mention anything about 'complete engine failure'! The letter offered 'Special Insurance' for qualifying vehicals... It did not sound like an 'engine recall'.
Ten days after the Dealership's refusal to explain a few simple questions, the car fails on the freeway. This dealer is now refusing to service my car. Saab USA's customer Service department appeared to help me when the car was under warrenty; but, now they are not responding to my correspondences concerning this new failure and the Dealership's Manager's utterly rude behavior.
It's enough! My car's repair history indicates that my particular Saab is, was and will always be a Lemon. This is the most wasteful investment I've ever made. This is the 14th new Saab that either my family, extended family or close friends have purchased over the last two decades. Saab must no longer have any interest in customer loyalty.
I would like to know if any other Saab owners with similar models have had similar problems - both with the car and with Customer Care.
I do not believe in using the legal system until there is no other recourse. My local Saab dealership and Saab Cars have given me no choice but to pursue this matter through the proper legal channels. Has anyone else out there sued Saab because of similar problems? Could you suggest a law firm that is familiar with these kinds of conflicts?
I appreciate any information you could provide! Thanks for your attention!
ernewell
look at my post on 07/13/05. Not only will I never purchase a Saab again, my family, extended family and friends who have purchased 14 new Saabs in the last two decades (starting w/ my father's first purchase in Sweden) will also never purchase a Saab again.
I figure 14 Saabs x new purchase price + financing &/or lease costs + all the service and maintanence might not equal one of their top executives quarterly salaries.... So, they simply do not care when they sell defective cars.
I mentioned in my post under 'Problems and Solutions',that I am the last person to resort to the legal system for a remedy; but, Saab has taken my 40K, served up 5 years of anguish and refused to address the Oil Sludge possibility - which caused my car to fail in a very dangerous location. What do I get for my hard earned money and diligence with regular and extra Services? A Liability Lemon.
I am looking to pursue the proper legal remedies that might be available. If any other Saab owners have done the same or are considering the same, I'd like to hear about your experiences.
ernewell
While under warrenty, my 2000 95 wagon was in and out of the dealer for persistent oil leaks over a 4 month period. Out of 120 days, I only had the car for the equivalent of two weeks. The longest stay in the shop was 42 days. When they returned it that time what was the problem? They had forgotten to reconnect the turbo after a previous repair. 42 days to reconnect a turbo that they'd 'forgotten' about? Anyway, the oil leak still persisted and it was back in the shop in a matter of days.
I should have just left it there!
I did notice that they replaced the seatbelts at the same time. Apparently there's a recall on those. Glad to get my car back. I missed it.